Spring nipple clamp



y 1935- Y. H. KURKJIAN SPRING NIPPLE CLAMP Filed Feb. 2, 1935 Patented July 2, 1935- SPRING NIPPLE CLAMP Yervan't H. Kurkjian,

Carl .Schmid,

Paterson, N. J., assignor to New York, N. Y.

Application February 2, 1933, Serial No. 654,951

5 Claims. (01.. 24-256) This invention relates to a spring clamp for securing nipples to a nursing bottle, and has for its object the production of a simple and efllcient clamping means which will securely hold a nipple upon the neck of a nursing bottle and which may also be easily and conveniently operated for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the nipple from the bottle.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efiicient spring clamp, especially designed for the purpose of anchoring a closure upon the en of a bottle, the spring clamp being so constructed as to permit the expansion of the clamp by a pinching action of the fingers, thereby permitting the easy removal of the clamp from the neck of a bottle or other container.

Other objects and advantages of the present specification and claims.

In the drawing:-

Figured is a perspective view of a portion of a bottle showing the nipple in position and the securing spring clamp in a position ready to be placed over a nippl Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion of a bottle showing the clamp in position for holding the nipple upon the neck of the bottle;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the bottle showing the clamp hanging upon the neck of a bottle after the nipple has been removed therefrom;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the spring clamp, one of the knobs being partly shown in section and a dotted position also being illustrated showing the expansion of the clamp when the two knobs are pinched together;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective of one of the invention will appear throughout the following finger-gripping knobs and a portion of the clamp-- ing band, showing particularly the formation of the inner end of one of the finger-gripping knobs, which formation will provide an efiicient guiding means for the clamping band as the knobs are pinched together; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention wherein the entire clamp is formed of a single strand of contractile resilient wire.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I designates the milk or nursing bottle which is provided with the usual beaded outer end 2 over which the nipple 3 is adapted to flex inorder to permit the attachment of the nipple 3 tothe botwith such nipples as is 3, the nipple is provided 4 which is adapted to neck of the bottle I, as

tie I. As is the custom indicated by the numeral with 'a beaded lower end be brought down over the shown in Figure 1.

In order that the nipple upon the neck of the bottle I, I have provided a specially constructed spring or resilient clamp as is indicated in general by the numeral 5, which clamp 5 comprises a substantially circular clamping band'ii, preferably formed of resilient wire, the band 6 having overlapping end portions 1 which snugly and frictionally contact at their crossing portions. The ends 1 terminate in a laterally and outwardly extending prong 8, each prong 8 fitting into and supporting an operating knob 9 of suitable design. Each operating knob 9 is preferably constructed or designed so as to present a smooth outer surface and at the same time provide a sufficient surface to be firmly and easily gripped by the fingers and thumb of an operator, as shown in Figure 1, for the purpose of placing the clamp upon the neck of the bottle or the removing of the clamp therefrom.

Each of the knobs I is provided with a grooved or dished inner face In in which the band 6 travels as the knobs 9 are pinched together, and this grooved or dished-in inner end III will constitute an eflicient guiding means for holding the crossed ends 1 of the band 6 in proper parallel relation and against lateral displacement as the knobs 9 are pinched together for the purpose of spreading the resilient band 6 to an open position, such as is shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The grooved inner face III will constitute a guiding channel for the band 6, and due to this particular structure, the band 6 will at all times be retained in a substantially circular contour and will not be likely to get out of shape or to be sprung out of shape as the knobs 9 are pinched together for the purpose of expanding the resilient band 6 when releasing the band 6 from the nipple 3.

In producing the knobs 9, the grooves I0 may be formed in the knobs by striking a blow upon the surface Ila, the inner ends of the knobs being slightly contracted for tightening the prongs within the knobs, and at the same time crowding the edges of the knobs over to produce the channels or grooves III. This would eliminate the necessity of cutting the grooves.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention wherein the clamp is formed similar to Figure 1, of contractile resilient wire, coiled to provide overlapping end portions l2 the opposite terminals of which are looped as at l3, to

3 may be firmly held the bottle, it may again be placed over the nipple and the neck of the bottle by merely gripping the clamp 5, as shown in Figure 1, andpinching the knobs 9 together to enlarge the resilient band 6 when this band i may he slipped over the beaded portion 2 of the neck of the bottle after the nipple has been placed in position. Merely by releasing the knobs 9, the resiliency of the band will cause the band to contract and snugly and resiliently grip around the base of the nipple and hold the nipple firmly in place.

It should be understood that the present scour ing means may be employed for attaching ,any kind of a closure to any kind of a receptacle or container and particularly where anouter beaded end is provided and behind which the resilient band 6 of the clamp 5 may fit for holding the closure in engagement with a container, or other similar article.

As I have shown in the drawing, the knobs I may be provided with circular grooves Ii which grooves may also constitute means for facilitating the gripping of the knobs by the fingers.

By means of the specially designed clamp 5 illustrated and described a very simple and emcient securing device has-been provided for firmly and efiiciently holding a very thin nipple over the neck of the bottle,. thereby eliminating. the necessity of. employing a nipple with a thickened base.

Consequently, a nipple of thin material may be placed over the neck of a bottle with facility and at the same time firmly held thereon.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention and that the device is susceptible of varioususesupon variouskindsand typesof containers, and these changes may be employed.

so'long as they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

1. A clamp of the class described comprising a resilient contracting band having overlapping end portions, the end portions being bent laterally to produce prongs, knobs clamped upon and'havingcircumlerentialchanneis theirinnerendatheinnerendsof toproducea guiding theresilient 2.Adeviceforci&ml 8aclosureupcnacontainerabandformedofresilientcontracting material, coiled to. provide overlapping ends,loopsformednearthet erminalsofsaid loopofoneendpartlyenoverlappin end for boldsaid prongs formed near ing said overlappin ends in constant contacting relation and against lateral spreading action and separation as said band is being expanded, and said overlapping ends terminating in'projecting li r p r 3. A device of the class described comprising a contracting band having overlapping end portions, said end portions terminating in laterally extending prongs, knobs carried by said prongs and each knob having means for straddling the adjoining-overlapping end portion for preventing lateral displacement of the end portions with respect to each other when band is being expanded.

4. A device of the class described comprising a contracting band having overlapping end portions, said end portions terminating in laterally extending finger portions, and each finger engaging portion being provided at its inner extremity with means for straddling the adjoining overlapping end portion for preventing lateral displacement of the end portions with respect to each other when said band is being expanded, and said straddling means being located at the point of Junction of the finger engaging portion with the band, and constituting a guiding channel "for engaging the front outer face of the adjoining overlapp end portion.

5. A device of the class described comprising a contracting band having overlappin end portions, said end portions terminating in laterally extending finger portions, each finger engaging portion being provided at its inner extremity with means for straddling the adjoining overlapping end portion for preventing lateral displacefnent of the end portions with respect to panded, said straddling means being located at the point of junction of the finger engaging portion with the band, and constituting a guiding channel for engaging the front outer face of the adjoining overlapping end portion, and the channel portion extending transversely of the finger engaging portion and across the inner end thereof and extending longitudinally of the adjoining overlapping end portion of the band.

' YERVANT H. KURKJIAN.

each other when said band is being ex- 

